Bangladesh authorities have initiated a nationwide manhunt following a violent riot in Rajbari district on September 5, where hundreds of hardline Islamists desecrated the grave of controversial cleric Nurul Haque Molla, also known locally as “Nura Pagla.” The unrest resulted in one fatality and dozens of injuries, marking a rare and deeply disturbing incident of grave desecration in the country.
According to police reports, approximately 2,000 individuals armed with crowbars, hammers, and sticks stormed the shrine after afternoon prayers, outraged by the design of Molla’s gravestone, which resembled the Kaaba in Mecca. Molla, who had controversially claimed to be the Imam Mahdi—a messianic figure in Islam—was buried at his shrine in August, but his burial practices deviated from mainstream Sunni traditions.
Md Kamrul Islam, Superintendent of Police in Rajbari, stated: “We have started identifying the perpetrators, and none will be spared. This act of violence and desecration is unacceptable and will be met with the full force of the law.”
The riot led to the death of Russell Molla, a shrine custodian unrelated to the cleric, and left around 50 others injured, including three in critical condition.
The Interim Government of Bangladesh, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, condemned the attack as “inhuman and despicable,” reaffirming its commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting the dignity of all citizens, both in life and in death.
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Human rights advocates have voiced concern over the growing influence of religious hardliners in Bangladesh. Abu Ahmed Faijul Kabir, a prominent activist, noted: “This incident reflects a troubling rise in religious intolerance. We’ve seen increasing hostility toward cultural expression and spiritual diversity.”